Sub saves Ahly in first leg of African final

Ultra culture – The 2011-12 Egyptian revolution thrust an unlikely group of young people into the country's political conscience: organized groups of soccer fans called "ultras."

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Round one – Groups of well organized soccer fans, numbering several thousand, came to prominence during the Battle of the Camels in Tahrir Square. Graffiti eulogizing the ultras covered most of the nearby walls.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Red is the color – Emboldened by their success, groups of ultras would attend and lead many of the post-Mubarak protests in Cairo against the military regime.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

V for Vendetta – The most prominent group was the Ahlawy, the ultras of Al Ahly, Egypt's biggest and most successful club.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Year zero – The Ahlawy was formed in 2007 as a way of showing better organized support for the team. But it soon became much more.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Ring of steel – Such were their numbers that security was tight. Members would be arrested and revolutionary, anti-regime chants could be heard from the stands.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

The tragedy of Port Said – Post Mubarak in 2011, soccer returned to Egypt after a brief suspension of the league. In the security vacuum violence grew. In February this year, 74 fans of Al Ahly, many of them Ahlawy members, died in Port Said after they were attacked by rival fans in the stands.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Remembering the 74 – The ultra groups claim that the deaths weren't the result of thuggery, as claimed by the authorities, but planned by the military as pay-back for their role in the revolution. The trial of over 70 people allegedly involved is ongoing.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Song for the dead – Marches were held across Egypt to honor the dead. Here a member of the Ahlawy leads marchers in song in the northern city of Alexandria. The soccer league was canceled. In their aim to achieve justice for the dead, the Ahlawy has launched a successful direct action campaign against the restart of the soccer league until the trial of those accused of the Port Said tragedy is completed.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Road to Brazil? – The lack of competitive soccer is just one of the many problems that has faced Egyptian national team coach Bob Bradley. The former coach of the U.S. men's team has been charged with taking Egypt to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Lockdown – His first competitive match was a World Cup qualifier earlier this year. Fears of violence were so high, the match was played without fans in a remote military stadium outside Alexandria.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

Egypt United – Despite the revolution and despite the team having played little or no football, Egypt won their first two World Cup qualifying matches.

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Egypt's soccer revolutionaries13 photos

The road to the final – Even more incredible has been the performance of Al Ahly in the African Champions League. Despite having no league, and having to play all their home games behind closed doors, the team has reached the two -leg final and is hoping for a seventh title overall.

Just Watched

Inside Port Said stadium

Color of the CAN – After a 1-1 draw with Gabon in the first leg, Togo's fans were hopeful of reaching January's Africa Cup of Nations ahead of Sunday's second leg.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

In awe of Adebayor – Togo's star player is Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor. He is reverred by the country's football fans, with this banner saying: "Adebayor: Togo's only hope".

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Togo triumph – And it was Adebayor who proved the difference, scoring the goal which sealed a 2-1 win for Togo on the day and a 3-2 triumph on aggregate.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Match abandoned – Saturday's playoff matches were overshadowed by events in Dakar, where riots caused Senegal's clash with Ivory Coast to be abandoned.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Sanctions for Senegal? – Ivory Coast were 2-0 up and 6-2 ahead on aggregate when the match was stopped. The Confederation of African football are yet to announce whether Senegal will be sanctioned for the disruption.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Defending champions – Zambia won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the first time triumph in their history, after beating the Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Libreville.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Gone but not forgotten – It was a poignant win for Zambia, who lost 18 members of their squad in a plane crash in Gabon in 1993.

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Africa Cup of Nations playoffs8 photos

Showpiece final – The final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will be played in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, which hosted the 2010 World Cup final, on February 10 2013.

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EXPAND GALLERY

The Egyptian league has been suspended since February as the club's militant fans -- known as "ultras" -- have promised to disrupt matches in protest against the lack of action taken by the authorities. An inquiry into the Port Said deaths is ongoing.

A minute's silence in honor of the dead preceded a goalless first half on Sunday, but Esperance took the lead five minutes after the break when Tunisia international defender Hichri netted from Khalil Chamam's corner.

Al Ahly, in the final for the first time since 2008's record sixth title success, were denied by a superb point-blank save by goalkeeper Ben Chrifia until Ahmed Fathy set up striker Hamdy.

"I'm satisfied with that draw, the match was very difficult so it felt like a win for us today," Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry told reporters.

"The performance of Ahly players tonight was affected by the long football stoppage in Egypt. It was also difficult for us to arrange friendly games lately."